I grew up doing a Bible memorization club at my church called AWANA.

We had little booklets that we would work through throughout the semester. I remember one week we were learning about loving our enemies. There was a story to read and a verse to memorize around that theme. I don’t remember much from it other than one phrase and the challenge that was given. It said something like, “If you pray for your enemies, they can become your best friends.”

The challenge was to do exactly that—write down your enemies’ names and begin to pray for them. This was an interesting concept to me. Even though I didn’t really have many people I would have considered “enemies,” I began to pray for two girls I was struggling with in my relationships. We were probably more like frenemies.

You see, when I was growing up, I was a bit of a know‑it‑all; one of these two girls was too. I only remember one major argument; we started yelling at each other across the room in front of my whole AWANA group about the instructions for some game. It was bad.

The funny thing is, after I began to pray for her, we became best friends. It wasn’t immediate, but later in high school a deep friendship began to grow between us. To this day she tells everyone about how I prayed for her and how we became best friends.

If we let people offend us and hurt us, and we don’t forgive and move on, bitterness forms in our hearts and only makes the relationship worse. But if we pray for our enemies, it not only allows God to work in their hearts, it also changes our own—cleansing anger and bitterness and helping us extend mercy, grace, and love.

Matthew 5:43–47
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”

Matthew 18:21–22
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

God has been showing me where I’ve been letting bitterness fester inside of me. He is teaching me how to forgive people. It is hard, but it is worth it in the end.

Are you holding on to anger toward someone? Let God heal your heart. Maybe you need to ask God if there is anyone in your life you need to forgive. Start praying for those people. Ask God to change the way you see them and to help you forgive.

If you have any stories of how God has changed your life through forgiveness, please share them with us. We would love to hear your story. Have a good week.